R 211128Z MAY 14
ALCGPSC 068/14
SUBJ: OFFICER POSTGRADUATE AND ADVANCED EDUCATION APPLICATION PROCESS
FOR ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2015
A. CG PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST
M1500.10C
B. ACTIVE DUTY OFFICER POSTGRADUATE AND ADVANCED EDUCATION
APPLICATION PROCESS GUIDE ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2015
C. OFFICER ACCESSIONS, EVALUATIONS, AND PROMOTIONS, COMDTINST M1000.3
(SERIES)
D. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA//FC-C// 122346Z MAY 14, ALCOAST
207/14
1. This message announces postgraduate and advanced education (PG/Adv
Ed) opportunities offered by the Coast Guard to qualified officers
and select enlisted members. It clarifies the PG/Adv Ed application
procedures outlined in Ref A. Where the application process guidance
in this message conflicts with Ref A, guidance herein and in Ref B
takes precedence. These procedures also govern enlisted members
applying to the Physician Assistant program. Guidance will be
released via message regarding Senior Education and Fellowship
Panels.
2. In order to maintain fairness to all applicants in this highly
competitive process, the published requirements and deadlines will be
rigorously enforced. Applicants bear the responsibility for ensuring
their application is submitted on time, complete, and in compliance
with applicable instructions and requirements. Applicants are
responsible for working with their command, SPO, and PSC Records
Branch (BOPS-C-MR) to correct any record errors or omissions.
Applicants who fail to meet the established requirements will not be
considered by the selection panels.
3. Eligibility requirements:
a. Only officers who are tour complete in 2015 are permitted to
apply.
b. Officers must have a minimum of two years commissioned USCG
service at the time of enrollment in the academic program in the fall
of 2015.
c. Members who are currently enrolled in a USCG sponsored PG/Adv
Ed program or who are currently serving in a specialty tour following
completion of a PG/Adv Ed program are not eligible to apply.
Additionally, those members who have already attended full-time
PG/Adv Ed programs through the Coast Guard will not normally be
selected for another opportunity. However, these officers are not
precluded from applying as there are programs for members seeking
higher level degrees in their specialty (e.g., LAW-LLM, MS in
Acquisition Project Management).
d. Officers applying to PG/Adv Ed programs leading to an advanced
degree must have a conferred baccalaureate degree at the time of
their e-Resume submission. The only exceptions to this requirement
are those members applying to: Advanced Computer, Engineering and
Technology (ACET), Aeronautical Engineering Officer (AEO) training,
Contract Management, Naval Engineering Technology (NET), and
Physician Assistant programs. Applicants to these programs should
consult the respective program solicitation message for specific
academic requirements.
e. Members recalled from retirement are not eligible to apply.
f. Officers who submit a retirement or resignation request will
be
removed from further consideration for any PG/Adv Ed programs.
g. Officers who are not selected for promotion during the PG/Adv
Ed panel season will have their applications withdrawn or will be
removed as a primary or alternate selectee.
h. Targeted grade ranges for specific PG/Adv Ed programs will be
identified in the respective program solicitation.
i. Additional requirements may be set forth in program-specific
solicitations. Members of the CG Reserve or officers holding a
Reserve commission should review paragraph 9 below before submitting
an application.
4. Ref B is the primary source for information in properly completing
the application process in Direct Access. Do not use "PSC eResumes"
link when applying to PG/Adv Ed programs, instead use "Create
e-Resume" link. Pages 13-20 of Ref B contain several checklists and
guidance on program selection to complete the e-Resume and
e-interview portion of the application correctly. Applicants, units,
and SPOs should use this guide and its checklists to ensure
eligibility requirements are met and Direct Access functions are
submitted on time. The Guide is available on the OPM-1 websites
listed in paragraph 19 below.
5. Selection panels are guided by the panel precept and base their
decisions on information in official records and applications. Panels
will see the following for each applicant:
a. IPDR (note: all service entries, whether enlisted or officer,
will be viewed).
b. Applicant's e-Resume PG/Adv Ed choices in preference order and
Mbr Comments.
c. Command e-interview comments.
d. Education and test data from Direct Access.
e. Tour completion date and assignment history.
f. Employee Summary Sheet (ESS) - Panel View.
g. Letters of recommendation are required for the Physician
Assistant and Dental residency programs only. Letters of
recommendation will not be considered for applicants to any other
program.
h. Some programs may require writing samples. These should be
submitted in accordance with program specific solicitation messages.
i. Separate communications to the panel other than e-Resume
comments are not permitted.
6. Prospective applicants should act now to ensure their IPDR is
complete (e.g., OERs, CG-4082, and academic transcripts). Officers
applying for PG/Adv Ed programs should not delay their regular
annual/semiannual OER submissions. A special OER documenting an
applicant's most recent performance may be submitted if it meets the
criteria of Art. 5.A.3.C.1.C of Ref C.
7. Officers are encouraged to review their Employee Summary Sheet.
The ESS provides a consolidated view of their information as it
appears in Direct Access. This serves as a means for every Coast
Guard member to review his/her personal data and to ensure the
information in Direct Access is updated and accurate.
8. Specific guidance for aviators: Aviators may apply to all PG/Adv
Ed programs except for Law (JD and LLM), Medical (e.g., Health Care
Administration), or those designated for Public Health Service (PHS)
officers. Aviators should carefully examine Aviation Career
Incentive Pay (ACIP) gates and upcoming assignment windows when
considering applying for any of the eligible programs. Follow-on
tours within each educational study will not be deferred. Based on
the current Service need to keep Aircraft Commanders in the fleet,
aviators completing their first operational tour will remain in an
operational assignment for at least a second consecutive tour. The
maximum number of aviators selected per program will be determined
based on Service need, aviation program requirements, and balancing
PG/Adv Ed opportunities for aviators. Questions should be referred to
the respective aviation assignment officer.
9. Specific guidance for Reserve officers: Reserve officers (O3 and
below) on Extended Active Duty (EAD), as defined in Ch. 1.B of Ref C,
may apply for PG/Adv Ed opportunities. Selected members must sign a
new EAD contract prior to enrollment. The new contract will include
existing obligated service as well as obligated service incurred upon
completion of the PG/Adv Ed program. These periods of obligated
service do not run concurrently. Enlisted members on EAD may apply
for the IPAP program and, if selected, must sign an active duty
agreement extending through the required obligated service. Only
officers on the ADPL are eligible to apply for PG/Adv Ed
opportunities. Officers and enlisted members recalled to active duty
under Title 10, ADOS, or drilling reservists are not authorized to
apply. Permanent and provisional Reserve Program Administrators
(RPAs) are only eligible to apply for the reserve program management
program. Specific guidance for RPAs will be published in that
program's solicitation message.
10. Specific guidance for PHS officers: PHS officers may only apply
for the Dental residency and Public Health programs. PHS officers may
apply to other health-related programs (e.g., Health Care
Administration) on a case-by-case basis using PHS-only tabs. PHS
officers will incur the same obligated service commitment for PG/Adv
Ed attendance as regular officers. Questions regarding these issues
should be referred to the respective Headquarters program manager.
11. In accordance with Ref A, PG/Adv Ed school graduates incur
obligated service and should expect to go immediately to program
related staff assignments. See Refs A and B for further information
on obligated service and delayed enrollment.
12. Applicants are encouraged to consider their application and
selection to PG/Adv Ed in the context of their overall career
strategy. Timing of PG/Adv Ed attendance can be critical as the
education and follow-on assignment period together may total up to
seven years. Career management questions should be addressed to the
OPM Career Management Branch (OPM-4).
13. Members selected during the AY15 PG/Adv Ed season will be
assigned to Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) in 2015.
14. Primary and alternate selections will be announced via msg after
the PG/Adv Ed panel adjourns and the results are approved.
15. The PG/Adv Ed panel schedule and generic precept will be
available prior to selection panel convening dates on the OPM-1
PG/Adv Ed web site and CG Sharepoint page listed in paragraph 19
below.
16. Deadline: Application/e-Resume submission for all PG/Adv Ed
programs is 20 June 2014. The following must be received by this
deadline:
a. E-Resume submission
b. Command endorsement and e-Resume marked final
c. Test scores correctly entered in Direct Access
d. Test scores scanned into IPDR
e. Completed degree information and corresponding GPA correctly
entered in Direct Access
f. Transcripts scanned into IPDR
g. Waiver requests
17. For field validation purposes, CG PSC will release an ALCGPSC
message listing all PG/Adv Ed applicants after the 20 June 2014
application deadline.
18. POCS:
a. PG/Adv Ed Coordinator: LT Lauren Milici, 703-872-6441.
b. PG/Adv Ed YN: YN3 Benjamin May, 703-872-6436.
c. Chief, Boards Section: LCDR Matt Moyer, 703-872-6438.
d. OER Questions: Email OPM-3 via ARL-PF-CGPSC-OPM(at)uscg.mil.
e. Career Management Questions: Email OPM-4 via
ARL-PF-CGPSC-OPM-4(at)uscg.mil.
19. Web Sites:
a. CG PSC (OPM-1) Postgraduate/Advanced Education (PG/Adv Ed)
Information:
http://www.uscg.mil/psc/opm/opm1/opm-1pg.asp
b. CG PSC (OPM-1) Reference Library (CG Portal):
https://cglink.uscg.mil/e0fbceaf
c. CG PSC (BOPS-mr) IPDR information (formerly PSD-mr, records
branch): www.uscg.mil/psd/mr
d. CG PSC (OPM-3) OER information:
http://www.uscg.mil/psc/opm/opm3/opm-3.asp
e. CG PSC (OPM-4) Career Management:
http://www.uscg.mil/psc/opm/opm4/opm-4.asp
f. CG PPC guide to Direct Access:
http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/ps/
20. RADM Dave R. Callahan, Commander, CG Personnel Service Center,
sends.
21. Internet release is authorized.